The Best of You Tube: Pigeon Riding the Subway

I thought this was so funny, I had to share:



This video was recently taken on a Toronto subway.
Notice how nonchalant the passengers are.

I love my city.

If I Had More Time

Not exactly sure what's going on with me lately but I feel anxious.  I'm wondering if that has anything to do with the fact that I have too much on my plate?
One of my favourite expressions is, 'if there were only more hours in the day'. 
The problem is, if I did have these extra hours, would I use them wisely? 

With my extra hours I would do (or at least attempt) the following:

1. Spend more time with my Grandmother
2. Resume my French lessons so I know what I’m eating whenever I go to Paris
3. Watch every movie that has ever won the Academy Award for Best Picture
4. Volunteer
5. Clean the dust bunnies from under my bed.  Btw, who thought to call them ‘bunnies’? They’re hardly cute.  'Dust Rats' is more appropriate.
6. Take my dog for more walks
7. Paint my kitchen red
8. Write more
9. Take a speed reading class so I can finish the books piled on my nightstand
10. Spend more time at the museum
11. Have coffee with friends more often
12. Sit still more often
13. Think of get-rich-quick schemes
14. Play tennis more
15. Dream about having more time

Making this list was harder than I thought and I'm sure I've left something out.

What would you do with more time?

Just More Questions.....

What do you do when the one person who has inspired you dies?

Do you carry on your journey or do you take time off to mourn or do you stop what you love to do altogether?
That’s what I’m struggling with today. I’m asking myself, ‘what’s the point?’

A few months ago, I made the decision to start blogging about my other love, fashion. I was thinking about starting a fashion website & blog for years but never really had the balls (or the time) to do it properly.

Then, one October day in 2009, I suddenly got the creative urge to do it and blogged about it:

Blog Post: October 6, 2009

I started my fashion blog the very next day....I’m still in the process of creating more and more content and will hopefully grow a good following soon…it takes time to develop but I don’t have to tell you guys that.
However, after hearing the news today that Lee (Alexander) McQueen has killed himself, I’m questioning everything.
My number one question is how can someone so brilliant and talented want to end it all at 40 yrs old?

Perhaps the fashion world really is.....irrelevant.  Or maybe I'm just being dramatic.

I’m so fucking distraught over a person I didn’t know. It’s strange. But it means something….I just don’t know what.

Below:
one of his most brilliant shows...in my opinion. SS 2005
RIP Alexander McQueen

Oscar Nominations 2010

Here we go again, kids! It’s Oscar time.
I love this time of year—I’ve been Oscar-obsessed my entire life.
Sometimes, the little gold man surprises us with the nominations and other times, not so much. This year is a ‘not so much’ year.

Most of us saw these nominations coming but there were a few surprises in each category but nothing out of the ordinary like nominating The Hangover for Best Picture. (This film won a Golden Globe Award. Writing it in my blog feels even more strange than saying it out loud)
But, I digress.

Here are some ‘WTF’ moments and ‘OMG, I’m so happy!’ moments and ‘Not a Surprise’ moments within the main categories:

Supporting Actress:

Vera Farmiga : ‘OMG’ I love Vera.

Anna Kendrick : ‘OMG’ & ‘Not a Surprise’ She’s my Oscar pick but Maggie G will be tough to beat

Mo’Nique: ‘Not a Surprise’ & ‘WTF’. I’m sorry, I just can’t get over the fact that someone from a movie called Phat Girlz is now nominated for an Oscar.



Penelope Cruz: ‘Not a Surprise’ & ‘WTF’ The Academy loves Penelope. Perhaps they can understand her when she talks. I certainly can’t.

Maggie Gyllenhaal: ‘Not a Surprise’ Could this be Maggie’s year?


Supporting Actor:

Christoph Waltz : ‘OMG’ ‘OMG’ & ‘OMG’. He plays a calm but raging lunatic that can speak four languages, beautifully. He was one scary ‘basterd’ in this film. He’s my Oscar pick.

Woody Harrelson: ‘Not a Surprise’ He’s got some serious Oscar buzz swirling over him

Stanley Tucci: ‘WTF’ I guess I should see The Lovely Bones. I liked the book but the movie has mediocre reviews so I decided to wait for the DVD rental.

Matt Damon: ‘WTF’ I still haven’t forgiven him for The Informant. I fucking Hollywood massacre for the eyes & ears, not to mention the most boring film of all time. I WANT MY $ BACK, MATT!!!!

Christopher Plummer: ‘Not a Surprise’ The Last Station is on my ‘must-see’ list

Upset:
Sharlto Copley for District 9 deserved some attention here.



Best Actress:

Gabourey Sidibe: ‘Not a Surprise’

Helen Mirren: ‘Not a Surprise’ Oscar buzz, buzz, buzz

Sandra Bullock: ‘WTF’ & who did she blow in Hollywood to get all this awards attention this year? Whatev. Never liked her, never will.

Carey Mulligan: ‘OMG’ & ‘Not a Surprise’ She’s my Oscar pick but Meryl played Julia Child perfectly-this one is a very close race

Meryl Streep: ‘OMG’ & ‘Not a Surprise’ It’s funny how young Hollywood complains about lack of good roles while Meryl, in her fifties, keeps doing her thing. When you got it, you got it.


Best Actor:

George Clooney: ‘Not a Surpise’ but he won’t win.

Jeff Bridges: ‘Not a Surprise’ Jeff Bridges will take it home.

Colin Firth: ‘OMG’ & ‘Not a Surprise’ Colin will get his Oscar some day but not this year

Morgan Freeman: ‘WTF’ I have ZERO interest in this film

Jeremy Renner: ‘OMG’ He’s my Pick. He deserves this award but I think the Academy will give it to Bridges

Upset:
Where’s Viggo? The Road was totally ignored. Interesting.




Best Picture:

Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds  My Pick! But this is a race between Hurt & Avatar
Precious
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air

Adapted Screenplay:
(It's difficult for me to pick the best screenplays as I haven't seen a couple of the noms yet but I LOVED An Education & Up in the Air)

Ditrict 9
An Education  My Pick!
In the Loop
Precious
Up in the Air   My Pick!


Original Screenplay:

The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds  My Pick but I think Hurt will take it home
The Messenger
A Serious Man
Up


Director:

Avatar
The Hurt Locker  My Pick
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
Up in the Air

Usually, the Best Picture winner & Best Director winner go hand in hand.  I think this will be a battle between Bigelow & Cameron.  I would love it though if Tarantino won.  I think Inglourious Basterds is his masterpiece.
What do you think?




So, it looks like I have some movies to watch before the big night:
A Serious Man
In The Loop
The Messenger
The Last Station
The White Ribbon (nominated for Best Foreign Film)


I probably won’t bother:
Invictus
The Blind Side
Precious
Crazy Heart
The Lovely Bones

Let's Get It On

A few weeks ago, I picked up my novel again—I left it for awhile because I was like a desert.

Anyway, just before the holidays, I was feeling rather cocky so I decided to tackle a love scene.
I have re-written this scene about a dozen times. Here I was, thinking the absence made me smarter. It didn’t--I’m still struggling with it but it's slowly getting better.
The big problem is it’s the only love scene in my novel so I want to make it hot and relatively realistic. However, every time I read it, I cringe. It always comes out cheesy. Like something in a Harlequin romance novel and my leading man is no Fabio.

Struggling with this, my mind has started to wonder. I’ve started thinking about those steamy sex scenes in movies. You know, the ones that make you shift around in your seat, especially if you’re on a first date or watching a movie with your Mom or Dad.
I often wonder if the writers of these sex scenes blush while they’re writing them.
What about the actors? How hard (hee hee!) is it to do a love scene while a bunch of people are looking on? It's strange.
Take Fatal Attraction. Now, that was one, hot sex scene in that little kitchen. Not to mention the elevator scene--remember that?
I tried to find some video of it but couldn't locate anything which is strange since it's considered one of the hottest sex scenes ever made. Perhaps it's too hot for You Tube!

Glenn Close was one scary bitch in that movie. In 1987, I'm sure many men thought twice before they decided to take the mouse out of the house for someone other than their wife.

James Dearden wrote the screenplay, based on a short film he made for British television called Diversion.

Some other worthy sex scenes:

The trembling Diane Lane in Unfaithful. Another sex scene too hot for You Tube.

Basically, Lane is married to Richard Gere. She's a stay-at-home Mom, trapped in a boring marriage in a boring neighbourhood with a boring wardrobe.

She meets Olivier Martinez and embarks and a hot and steamy affair. That's about it in a nutshell.
The love scenes were beautifully shot and seemed very intimate.
I wonder what the actors' spouses think of hot sex scenes like this.  It would be difficult to see your husband or wife on the big screen, getting it on with someone else. 

The Departed
This was a great love scene--short and sweet.

Last Tango in Paris
This one is a classic.  Brando was older and wider but he was still gorgeous.  He was only in his forties in this film.

You'll never look at a stick of butter the same way again after you watch this movie.


Body Heat

Kathleen Turner & William Hurt had the best chemistry. Every scene was hot, hot, hot.
Especially the scene when they first get it on.  Hurt basically breaks into her house to get to her as she's just playing way too hard to get.




9 1/2 Weeks
I liked the refrigerator scene the best. No surprise there.



Remember when Mickey Roarke was good looking?  Or at least human looking.


I have to go now.  Time to finish this sex scene.

Go take a cold shower!

My Old Christmas Friends

I love watching Christmas movies.
I guess it's because my favourite's are like old friends that I only get to see once a year.
Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.
It's interesting how that concept doesn't apply to family.

I compiled a Top 10 list which was very difficult for me to do. I put them in order of release date because I really can't choose a favourite.
Unless someone pulls out a gun.


1. Holiday Inn, 1942




It doesn't get any better than Bing Crosby & Fred Astaire. The Voice and The Dancer. Perfection. Bing sings the song White Christmas for the first time in this film, not White Christmas.
Did that sentence just make sense? I'm sure you know what I mean...


2. It’s A Wonderful Life, 1946



I've seen a lot of Jimmy Stewart movies. However, in this film, I think he gave his very best performance. Seriously, one of the best performances by an actor--of ALL time.
He was mesmerizing as George Bailey. Watch the video and you'll see just a small part of his Magic at 4:35.

3. Scrooge, 1951



Alastair Sim was, by far, the best Ebenezer Scrooge. Why?
His acting range was flawless.


4. White Christmas, 1954



One of my favourite scenes in White Christmas: Bing, Danny, Rosemary and Vera singing 'Snow'.
I don't think I'll ever get sick of this movie. I watch it every Christmas Eve—guaranteed.

Did you ever notice how Vera-Ellen's costumes always covered her neck? That's because she was anorexic--her neck looked 20 yrs older than she did. Sad.
That heffer Rosemary Clooney must have hated her. I know I would if I had to stand next to a woman with an 18" waist.


5. How The Grinch Stole Christmas, 1966



Every year I'll watch this one when it comes on TV. It never get's old. I love the relationship between him and the dog. The Grinch had great acting range, too. ;)


6. A Christmas Story, 1983



'You'll shoot your eye out, kid!' A cult classic.
Oh, Ralphie! How precious was Ralphie?
My favourite scene is when Ralphie visits Santa and of course, the pole scene in the You Tube clip above.


7. Home For The Holidays, 1995



Okay, so technically, this is a Thanksgiving movie but I watch it every year around Christmas. Robert Downey Jr. steals the show.
My favourite lines are: when Holly Hunter says 'Do you ever look around the table at your family and think 'who are these people?'
Who hasn’t said that at least once a year?

And Robert Downey Jr. to his Mother: 'You're a pain in the ass and you have bad hair but I like you a lot'


8. Christmas Vacation, 1989



The best scene in Christmas Vacation? Aunt Bethany attempting to say Grace.
It cracks me up every time.
I love crotchety, old Uncle Lewis.


9. Elf ~ November 7, 2003



To be honest, if I really, really had to choose my favourite Christmas movie, it would be Elf. I will only choose if the gun is loaded.
It’s hard to pick a favourite scene but I love the part where Buddy get’s very excited when he learns that Santa is coming to visit the store.

10. Love Actually ~ November 14, 2003



This movie has become a Christmas tradition for me since 2003. When I first saw it, I skipped out of the theatre and then went straight home to write my Christmas list.
If you feel blah and not in the mood this year, watch this movie. It will bring you some serious Christmas spirit.
Also, it's quite simply, one of the best romantic comedies ever made.

So, if there's a film on this list you haven't seen, get to it!
12/25 is quickly on its way....


Final Note:

My friend Peter wanted me to add Silent Night, Deadly Night to this list but I just couldn't. However, if you're like Peter and would rather see people killing one another (singing and dancing isn't for everyone) this bad slasher film may be your thing.



Merry Christmas to you all!!! Remember: Eat, Drink & Be Merry

World AIDS Day: December 1st, 2009

Every December 1st, for about 20 years now, I spend the day reminiscing about my Uncle. His name was Christopher but when I was little, I couldn’t get the whole name out so I just called him ‘Chrissy’ and the name stuck with him.
He always said he hated being called 'Uncle Chrissy' but deep down, I think he liked it.

Even though he was my Uncle, we were only ten years apart (technically, he was my first cousin but that’s a story for another day) so he felt more like a Brother to me.
For 15 years, he was a huge, influential part of my life. He was so cool and popular and all I wanted to do was be near him--that's all anyone wanted to do.
We spent endless hours together, playing cards (Crazy Eights—he always won), shopping, watching MTV and just being plain silly. I could always be silly with him and I cherished every second I had with him.

On September 15, 1989, he died of AIDS. He was 25 years old.

He’s been gone 20 years now but it’s still not easy to write about him—it’s even harder to talk about him. I usually choke on tears before his name is barely out of my mouth.

I used to cry and cry over him, almost every day but especially this day—I was filled with anger for a very long time. When you watch someone you adore slowly die, you question everything, especially God.
You just feel hate for the disease, the world......life.
The truth is, it still hurts like hell and I’m still mad at the disease but time has eased the anger I had towards life, in general.
I'm hoping time will eventually dry the tears.

About 10 years ago, I figured I should channel all that anger into something positive like volunteering and trying my best to donate what I can to the fight against AIDS.
Now, instead of crying, feeling terrible about what I don’t have, I think about how tough he was even when he was so sick. I think about how much courage it took for him to go to work each day, knowing the ignorance and hate he was going to encounter. I think about all those impoverished people in Africa that can’t afford to ease their children's suffering from the disease. Most of all, I think about how lucky I am that I’m healthy.
For without our health, we have nothing.

On this day, I like to take time to read up on all the current news about the fight against AIDS and all the amazing steps we’ve made on the road to finding a cure.
This day shouldn’t be just a memorial for those we’ve lost, it should be a day to educate ourselves on the disease and to spread the word: Prevention is our best defense.

Some current facts about HIV/AIDS:

· AIDS is a pandemic

· 275,000 children died of AIDS in 2008

· 66% of people living with AIDS are in Sub-Saharan Africa

· 75% of deaths occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa

· As of 2008, there are 33.4 million people living with HIV

· Currently, there is a $10 billion shortfall each year in the fight against AIDS. Funding is being cut all over the world but people like Donald Rumsfeld are getting rich from the Tamiflu vaccine—a fucking crock. Question: If the majority of people living with AIDS were white, would there still be this many deaths? Fact: The world doesn’t care enough about Africa to help fix the problem

· There are 40,000 new cases of HIV each year in the United States alone

· A pregnant woman can pass on the disease to her child

· Two million children under the age of 15 are living with HIV

· 1 in 5 people don’t know they have the disease--it can sometimes take up to 10 years to see any symptoms

· There is no vaccine or cure for HIV/AIDS

Another thing I do every Decemeber 1st? I make a wish that I live to see the day when we find a cure.

If you want to get involved in the fight against AIDS or learn more about the disease, visit:

http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/

If you're able to and would like to make a donation today, visit the Casey House website:

www.caseyhouse.com/

Casey House was founded in 1988 and was the first hospice in Canada for people living with HIV/AIDS. There is no cost to clients--Casey House relies mostly on donations as the government will only fund basic care.

My Uncle stayed here for a short time while he lived with the disease. It's an incredible place filled with acceptance, compassion and kindness: three important things a person living with HIV/AIDS needs to fight for survival.